First, because of changes in our job situations, the kiddoz were home all summer, rather than going to full-day child care. On balance, I think it was good for them, and I KNOW it was good for our bank accounts. Was it good for the parents? On balance, I think so, but a few breaks are always in order, if you know what I mean.

Second, it was just an odd summer. It feels more like summer now, today, than it did in July. Our vegetation is getting mixed signals on a massive scale. Wonder if hibernation is affected by the weird weather patterns?

And third, we hit a few more milestones this summer. Our 8-year-old is now an avid bike and scooter rider, as well as a deep end-tested swimmer. The 4-year-old is actively engaged in disassembling things around the house using tools, and comes into his second year of preschool this fall as an accomplished artist, reader and writer.

We’re now fully returned to the school routine, which gives us a bit of a daytime break and keeps those active brains (the kids’, not ours) engaged. And as I prepare for my third job change this year, it seems worthwhile to chronicle where we’ve been, and where we’re going.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite books, “The Journey is the Destination,” taken from the journals of Reuters photographer Dan Eldon. Dan experienced more in his 22 years than many of us will experience in our lifetimes. Here’s hoping that we all will continue to experience all life has to offer on our journey — this summer (even as it winds down) and beyond.

Nighttime sleep battles are nothing new, but I think we’re reaching new heights with our 4-year-old.

Part of our problem, to be frank, rests with our day care, which has a 3-hour (yes, 3-hour) quiet time every day, from noon to 3 p.m. We don’t get there until after 1 p.m. because of our new preschool, but that still gives our 4-year-old up to 2 hours of nap.

That’s way too long, in our view, and it keeps him up until 11 p.m. or later. We’ve tried to address the issue with our day care, because our kids typically don’t nap at when we’re home with them on weekends.

On another front, we were talking politics Monday night, and our 7-year-old asked who we favored. We mentioned our choice, and noted our reasons.

Here was his take on the situation: If he were running for president, he’d lower taxes for everyone, because then people would have more money to spend on things. He’d also end wars and have people “talk things out.”

It’s not a complete platform, but it’s a good start. I know I’d vote for him. He was a little dejected, though, that he can’t run for president right now.

With my wife now working in Iowa City, and our 4-year-old in preschool, I’ve now settled into a new midday routine — and it’s developed into a decent workday diversion.

See, our preschool program is only a half-day program. While it’s great for what it is, it ends at 1 p.m. But our workday doesn’t end at 1 p.m. So that means youngest son has to be shuttled from preschool to his former, and current, day care for the balance of the day, until my wife can pick him up.

What that means, of course, is that I’m leaving work to serve as the shuttle. And it’s become an opportunity for us to bond just a little bit more. We look at the drawings (prolific artist, this one) he’s done in preschool, and talk about his day. And since we’ve had a wonderful stretch of weather in September, we’ve been visiting a local park (“Golf cart park,” he calls it, since it’s near a municipal golf course) for a short play session before the day care delivery.

The session is too short, really. Unfortunately, I can’t afford more time with it, since I need to get back to the office.

Other than the lost work time, I really do enjoy the midday break. But in another month or so, I’m guessing, the park trips won’t be part of the agenda.

Wonder if there’ll be another activity to replace it. Cross-country skiing, perhaps. Or maybe a toboggan ride.